Kindness in Action-Dental Trip (Part One)

What an adventure...Doug and I are in the Philippines foe several weeks on a Dental Mission with a group called "Kindness in Action". It is always nice to go with this group, we have gone with several, but this is a fun, well organized group to go with.

We were invited to go with them over a year ago, but it was a little tough to leave home with new baby Colby still premature in the hospital, but I'm sure he's home now. We do miss everyone, but we are very busy here with all the patients trying to get in.

Our first area that we worked in was called Diffun, Quirino April 1-3

 

We have worked in various places on previous trips, but this was the first one where we worked in a gymnasium...such a big, open area! It was so wonderful to have room to do everything. We have 4 dentists, 4 hygienists, 6 dental assistants, and 8 others helping with sterilization and patient care.

Doug did extractions for the first two days...

And then fillings...today Doug, with his two assistants, Alana and Brenda, added a front tooth to this young woman's partial denture, as well as doing 4 fillings! She was soooo happy!

These are our hygienists, Diana, Natasha, Jennifer and Kim.

 

And my job this trip is to help in sterilizing all the instruments that we use after we see each patient, it is a busy full time job here! I love it.

We have met some wonderful people, this is Jason and his mother. They work and sleep each day in this little kiosk,

 

and they sell BBQ meat...

pigs ears, chicken intestine, pork strips, baby chicks, and blood sausage! Yummmy!

The children here are beautiful!! I love his hair!!

I loved this little boy's Spider-Man shirt, he was so proud of it!

 

They loved the balloons!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The true heart of 'Kindness in Action' is shown here...Mackinzie, not a dentist or hygienist or dental assistant came all the way from Canada to just hold a patients hand and give support!

We love this team and the work we are doing!

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Grand Kids

Well, we have a new Grandson...Colby Cameron!! He was born 6 weeks early on St Patrick's Day and only weighed 4.15 lbs, but he is long....18". We are so excited to welcome a new grand baby, this little one makes 6!!

 

 

 

He is still in the hospital and everyday his mom, Deana, goes up to take care of him. He is growing up nicely and learning to nurse, and gets stronger everyday.

I think he loves his bath!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lindsay is the next one to have her little girl in June...she is calling this little one, Ivy! We are looking forward to this new addition as well.

 

It has been a little while since my last blog entry, it seems our lives have gotten very busy in the last few months!

We were away for a Dental Conference in Vancouver the first part of March. It was fun, Lindsay came with us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have had some wonderful times with our grandchildren during this time

 

 

 

In February we got to have a sleep over with Ava and Joshie while their mom and celebrated their 10th Wedding Anniversary (On Valentines day!)

 

 

Ava loves stuffies, and we had some fun times playing with them all.

 

 

After playing with the stuffed animals, the kids got out the 'tinker toys' and built all kinds of fun contraptions. We had fun just watching them!

Josh had a lot of creative ideas about how to build a potatoe man. It was amazing to watch him carefully put each piece on, and finally have it all together!

 

 

 

He was quite proud of his work!! Hmmmmm... maybe he's thinking "This is what my dad looks like with his moustache."

 

Jon and Tiff and their cute family after 10 years of marriage!

 

 

 

Deana was on bed rest for almost 7 weeks before Colby was born, so we had some great opportunities to spend some time at their house with the girls.

 

Brynnlee is called the "Exterminator"...not just by us, but by everyone. She is constantly in motion and into everything! I love it,

 

I love her curiosity and excitement about life. She is really a sweet little girl. She is now 17 months, almost time for Nursery at church.... Oh no!!

 

 

 

Mckinley loves helping and will do anything you ask...like making cookies or coloring a cute picture!

 

 

 

She always wants to in the middle of everything, trying to keep up with her big sister, Brookie!

She loves cookie dough!

 

 

 

Brooklyn is now 5 almost 6 and is such a great help to everybody! She is getting so big, and loves to bake and decorate cookies, especially for her mom and dad!

 

 

 

 

Brooklyn loved our dog Rachel, as did all of our grand kids, but we have finally given her away. Our neighbour knew we were looking for a new home for Rachel and his mother came to see her and the deal was made, She went with her yesterday. We are sad, but it will like heaven for Rachel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grandpa has been helping a lot with the grand kids but sometimes he just needs a nap, even in the midst of all the fun!!

 

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Hawaii

 

What a great way to celebrate Doug's birthday...in Hawaii with Mark for a week! It was a great trip!

 

 

 

We went to Kaua'i, which is the most Northern Island in Hawaii. It really is quite lush and beautiful.

It is covered with stunning rain forests and breathtaking waterfalls!

 

 

We went tubing through irrigation canals that were dug through the mountains by Chinese Immigrants hundreds of years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The canals meander through a series of tunnels...some over half a mile long.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We went snorkelling, and of all the diving and snorkelling we have done...this was truly some of the BEST! So many fish and such a variety, it was like swimming in an aquarium!!

 

 

 

We flew around the a Island in a plane with a pilot on leave from American Airlines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We saw the beautiful coast line, and a great surprise...we saw Humpback whales with a brand new baby. (Those black and white specks really are whales, the pilot later took us in for a great close-up.)

 

 

 

 

We also flew over the Na Pali coast...famous for the many movies filmed in the area, including 'Jurassic Park'.

 

 

We explored many rocky beaches...

 

 

 

We loved just being on the ocean, the waves and sounds and smells are so inviting...and so different from Edmonton winters!

 

 

Doug and Mark went golfing on a beautiful course that overlooked the ocean!

 

And we went mini golfing in a truly 'one of a kind' botanical garden.

We had fun, but also learned all about the plant life that was native to Kaua'i and the plants brought to Kaua'i from other areas of the world through the years.

 

Mark tried surfing and caught some good waves and had some fun. A lot of great surfers catch the waves here. We had fun watching surfers at the various beaches...and cheering Mark on!

 

 

We saw ocean turtles that were so big, their shells could be a kitchen table...and they came so close up.

They are so cute!

 

 

 

A highlight was our visit to Waimea Canyon, often called the 'Grand Canyon of the Pacific'. It is approximately 10 miles long and 3,000 feet deep. A little stormy for our visit, but so beautiful and unusual on a Hawaiian Island.

 

 

 

We had time to enjoy the beautiful beaches, and catch the slow pace of the Island.

 

 

 

 

 

It was hard to say goodbye after a week, but we had wonderful experiences we will always remember.

What lovely sunsets we enjoyed, I caught this one of Mark our last night there. It looks like he's thinking "Good-bye...but I'll be back!"

I think we'll all be back!

 

 

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